Apparatus for maturing immature and frost-bitten cotton-bolls.



I. E. LE. 'APPARATUS FOR MA'IURING IMMATURE AND FROST BITTEN COTTON BOLLS.

APPLICATION IILED DE(..5,1912. L'l 4.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

ATTORNEYS nutren sfrarssrnrn erstes,

JOHN ELLWOOD LEE, F GONSIOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN B.

HALL, 0F PHILADELPHIA, IENNSYl-VA'NIA.

APPARATUS FOB MATURINGIMMATURE ANI) FROST-BITTEN COT-TQN-BOLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.a touted Sept. 23, i913.

Application lcd December 5,1912. Serial No. 735,024.

To all 'whom if 'muy concern` ite it known that I, JorrN lhmwooo Lun, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Conshohocken, in the county ot Montgomery, Sta'te of Pennsylvania, have indented a new `and useful Apparatus for 'Maturing immature and Frost-Bitten Cotton-Bells, of which the lfollowing is a specification.

rthis.invention relates to an apparatus t'or maturing` immature and frost bitten cotton bells and has for an object to provide a ineclmnisnl whereby cotton boils which have failed to open by reason ot an early frost or otherwise may be artificially opened and a product thereby obtained which has heretotore been useless and ot no commercial vaille. It has for a further object to provide a mechanism for successively treating.,Y an immature or vfrost bitten cotton boll by applying a maturing composition, continuously feeding the bolls at a comparatively slow speed through a moisture extracting mechanism and providing a mechanism tor condensing the extracted moisture.

For the pur ose of illustrating my invention, I have sliown one form of apparatus wherein the ste s of my novel invention may be carried out, `but it. will be understood that the'maturing f solution or powder may be applied in a different manner, and different mechanism from that shown may be employed, and I do not therefore desire to be limited to any particular mechanism tor carrying out the steps of my invention, and furthermore, the proportions of the ingreclients employed for the maturing,r composition or alkaline solution or both, may be varied, according to requirements, under at- 'n'iospheric o1' climatic conditions.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic lview partly in section showing one form of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar representation showing a modified `form ot the apparatus.

Similar numerals of re terence indicate ciirre-spending; parts in the figures.

ltolcrring: to the drawings, l designates thc ii'nmature, unopened or frost bitten cotf ton bolls which are placed ln a .suitable tank or receptacle 2, containing a bath or solution 9, ot' any maturingr alkaline liquid such as caustic soda, potash, lime, or ammonimtaken singly or con'ibincd in the proportions of about l0 to Q0 per cent. ol eacho sufficient water or other liquid to hold the same in solution.

L designates an endless apron or cquiva lent device which passes around the rollers 5 and 6, the toi-mer being preferably partly immersed in the bath 2l so that a portion of the endless apron t travels therethrough. The rollers 5 and G may be driven from any suitable'source of power and actuated by sprocket wheels or similar devices as will readily be apparent- In the present in-` stance, the apron '1 is provided with a plurality of brojections 19 adapted to engage and propel the saturated cotton bolls'in the direction indicated by the' arrow a.

It will be noted that the apron 4 is preter..bly inclined in order to initially drain the boils betoredeliverv to the moisture extracting mechanism, and in view, 'of the fact that it is also driven at a comparatively slow speed the bolls are partially dried before being discharged from the said apron 4.

Adjacent, the delivery end of the apron 4 there is a second endless apron or carrier 7 which travels around thc rollers 8 and 9 and receives motion by means of the sprocket chain lor belt 10 driven by the sprockets 11 and 1Q, the said sprockets being respectively mounted on the shafts7 which carry the rollers 6 and 8. The apron 7, as will be seen, is positioned in such a manner that it will receive the cotton boils delivered from the apron 4 and it will be noted that this apron 7 moves at a comparatively slow speed in order, that the moisture in the bolls may be extnacted therefrom.

13 designates the ,moisture extracting chamber, the interior of which is heated and maintained at a desired temperature by means ot pipes 1t in which steam or other heating medium is controlled by the valve 15. Under certain con 'tions it is desirable to treat the cotton bollptdurinfr their passage through the f i\tractimr` chamber by subjecting them to the spraying action of a dust preferably composed of the same alkaline chemicals as previously described with respect. to the bath 3. For this purpose, I employ a nozzle or noir/.lcs 2t) suitably positioned to inject `the sa id dust into a compartment formed adjacent to the entrance end of the extractor and the said noczle or nozzles are so disposed as to spray the dust directly uponthe boils, when located upon the apron rate of trolled by a suitable valve.

7. By the employment of the compartment 35 it will be apparent that a practically closed chamber is formed into which the desired maturing composition or ingredients may be injected through the nozzles 1G or 20, as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

. compartment with the nozzle or nozzles 20 and are connected by a pipe 21 to the pumping element 22 which 'draws the alkaline solution from a suitable source of supply by way of the pipe 23. ln connection. with the foregoing, it will be noted that a valve 32 is interposed at a suitable point in the pipe 2l between the pumping element 22 and the nozzle 16 in order to cut oil1 the supply of chemical, and in the place thereof furnish a supply of live or exhaust steam by way of pipe 34 which is controlled by the valve 83 and receives the steam fromv an'j-\suitable source.

35 designates the compartment formed at the entrance end of the extractor between the outer wall 3G thereof and a partition 3 7 depending from the extractor casing and terminatingv a short distance above the endless apron 7, y

ldesignates the cotton bolls shown as being opened lor matured by passing through the'portion of the apparatus just described which upon leaving the apron 7 are delivered into a suitable receptacle 18 wherefrom they may be removed for the subsequent steps of ginning or other treatment.

27 designates an exhaust fan having communication with the ertr'acting,r chamber by means of' the pipe 28 whereby gases or moisture may be `continuously withdrawn from the chamber the said pipe 28 being con- I vhave also foundit desirable to utilize a condenser comprising the pipe or pipes 29 which are located Within theextracting chamber and serve to condense the moisture which has been extracted from the bolls during their passante through the aforesaid mechanism. It will be'apparent by openingthe valve in the pipe 28, more or lcssthe amount of moisture condensed can be regulated in accordance with the quantity of,heated air .withdrawn from the extractor i3.'

ln the construction shown in Fig. 2, in

. order to avoid confusion, I have employed the same'reference numerals to indicate the partswhich are identical with those described for Fig. l, and'it will be noted that with one or two exceptions, the two mechanisms are substantially the same. l

In the modified construction of Fig. 2, ll have dispensed with the initial bath' 3, and feed the immature or unopened bolls di.- rectly to the apron il, from which they Vare delivered, as heretofore described upon the extractor apron 7. Q 30 designates a fsuction pipe located inthe condenser chamber and operatedvby a* suction device or fan 3l, so that-'the eztcess-` gases are drawn downwardly and lout of the bottom of the extractor 13, Where they are; discharged directly to the atmosphere.' (i rllhe operation is as follows z-The cotton bolls or lthe like, after being first immersed in the bath 3, for the requisite time, arefgg', slowly propelled or fed therefrom by Ithe; apron 4,'until theydrop upon the drying. apron 7, whereupon they are slowly edlq through the moisture extracting chamber, the edect ot' which iste cause the immature @u or unopened bells to open by `the application Yet' the heat thereto, and l thus produce arti,- licially a condition,approximating fruition, which would be produced vby nature under perfect climatic or atmospheric coiuilitions.

It willbe apparent, that if. desired, I may employ a plurality of moisture eittractin chambers arranged in proximity tdi; eac other instead of a single apparatus whichl have shown, as under some climatic or atn` in ospheric conditions, it be necessary to give the bells a secjend oir-third treatment, in order-to malte the'n olieijftpro'perlyfl and eX`- peditiously, and Awhile lflihave shown .mie forml of apparatusJinwhich my invention :im ,may be carried out, I do not desire to be I limited thereto in every instance. It will furtlier,be apparent that the ope'rt tion of the apparatus is entirely automatic and several machines can be re ulated or op 1w erated by a single attendant, and in conse-` quence a large number of polls may be treated simultaneously' Tt will furtheribe apparent that by my no'vel invention I am enabled to utilize all 115 the frost bitten', unopened otr immature cotton holle, which lnder present conditions are allowed tordryihipon the stalks orfall t0 the ground, thereby ati'ordinr a home' or place of lodfgment for the -bol-weevil and ma its larva. As a further advantage of my invention, I am enabled to utilize the cotton and cotton seeds from frost bitten unopened and immature cotton boils, which have heretofore 125 been a waste product, and l have found in practice and by tests that these seeds are substantially aswell adapted for cotton seed oil as the seed ot bolls matured in the usual i Way. 13u

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of an apparatus for maturing immature and 'frost bitten cotton boils, which embodies thc teatures oi? advantage enumerated as desirable in tl i statement ot the invention and the above description, and while i have, in the present instance, shown and described a pre- `terred embmlin'ient thereo't which has been vfound in practice to `give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without (,leparting 'troni the spirit or scope of the invention or sacritici-ng any ot' its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what i' claim as new and desire to secure by lietters Patent, is

i. An apparatus i'or maturingl in'nnature, unopened or frost `bitten cotton boils, coni prising a moisture extracting chamber having a compartment in the forward portion thereof, an endless apron within said chainber adapted to receive said boils, ineenstorinjecting steain upon said boils within said compartment, and means for regulating theI temperature ot said moisture extracting chamber.

2. An apparatus for maturing immature, unopened or frost bitten cotton boils, conipris-ing a moisture extracting chamber, a carrier passino,- through said chamber, a partition in the forward portion of said moisture xtracting chamber whereby a compartment is formed, a nozzle contained within said compartment and adapted `to initially discharge steam or a maturing solution upon said boils, and a second nozzle contained in said compartment adapted to discharge a maturing powder upon said bolls.

3. An apparatus for maturing immature, unopened or frost bitten cotton boils com prising a moisture extracting chamber, a carrier pazssing through said chamber, a partition 37 in the forward portion of said moisture extracting chamber whereby, the compartment 35 is formed, a nozzle 1G contained witir'n said compartment and adapted to initially discharge steam or a maturing' solution upon said boils, a nozzle Q0 e'ontained in said compartment adapted to discharge a maturing powder upon said boils;A and means in said moisture extracting chamber ior condensing the moisture so extracted.

ei. An apparatus for maturing immature, unopened or frost bitten, cotton boilsjcomprising a moisture extracting chamber, a carrier passing through said chamber, a partition 37 V'inthe forward portion of said moisture extracting chamber whereby the compartment 35 is formed, a nozzle 16 contained within said compartment and adapted to initially discharge steam or a matan.

ing solution upon said boils, a nozzh` 20 containedin said compartment adapted to dis charge a maturing' powder upon said boils, means in said moisture extracting chamber ior eoni'lensing the moisture so extracted, and means for controlling the amount ot moisture coi'nlensed.

5. in an ai'iparatus for maturingr inimaf turc or frost, bitten cotton boils, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid maturing coinposition and the boils to be treated. :in inclined conveyor mechanism having a portion thereof submerged in said maturing sollitionfand its discharge end located above said receptacle, a moisture extracting chamber having a compartment in the forward portilon thereof, an endless apron positioned tliy receive thc boils as delivered 'lrom said inclined conveyor and adapted to carry said boils through said moistureA extracting chamber, means within said compartment for injecting steam upon said boils, 'and means forregplatinnr the temperature of said moisture extractinv chamber.

G. In apparatus or maturing immature or frost bitten cotton boils, a receptacle adapted to c ntain a liquid maturing composition and he boils to be treated, an inclined eonveyer mechanism having,r a `portion thereof adapted to be submerged .in said maturing solution and its discharge end located above said receptacle, a moisture ex- .tracting chamber having a compartment in the forward portion thereof, an endless apron positioned to receive the boils as de iivered from said inclined conveyer and `adapted to carry 'it'aid boils through -said inoistldre extractinfchamir, means within said compartiment for injebtingir stea'in upon said boils, means for regulating the temperature of said moisture extracting chamber, andmeans insaid moisture extrating chamber for condensing the moisture so ex` tracted. p' i 7. In an apparatus for maturing imma\ ture or frost bitten cotton boils?, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid maturing composition and thebolls to be treated,an inclinred eonveyer mechanism having-a portion thereof adapted to be submerged in said maturine` solution and its discharge end located above. said receptacle", a moisture extracting chamber having a compartment in the forward portion thereof, an endless apron positioned to receive the boils as deiivered from said inclined conveyer and adapted to carry said boils through said moisture extracting`v chamber, means within said compartment for injecting steam upon said boils, means foi' regulating the tem pe `atiire of said moisture extracting chant bei', means i. said moisture extractingr clfigmber for cof lensing the moisture so extracted, and means for controlling the quan tity of moisture condensech file lmeans in said moisture extracting mechanism for condensing the moisture so extracted.

9. An apparatus for maturing immature .or frost bitten cotton bolls comprising mechanism for transporting the bolls in a quiescent state, mechanism :tor applying a maturing composition to said bolls While in transit, mechanism for extracting moisture from said bolls While in transit,lmechanism for condensing the moisture so extracted,

' and means for controlling the quantity of moisture condensed.

l0. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls comprising a substantially closed chamber,.means for moving the bolls therethrough,vmeans in said chamber for applying a powdered maturing composition to said bolls, means in said chamber `for extracting moisture 'from the powdered bolls, and-means in the chamber for condensing the moisture Aso extracted.

11. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls comprising means for moisteningA the bolls, a substantially closed chamber, means for transporting the bolls from the moistening means to said chamber, means for moving' the bolls through said chamber, means in said chamber for extracting moisture from said bolls, means for condensing the moisture so extracted, and means for controlling the amount of moisture condensed.

12. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls, comprising a receptacle for receiving the bolls, a condensing chamber, a conveyer leading from said receptacle to said chamber, means for moving the bolls through said, chamber, mecha` nism Within andnear the entrance end of said chamber for applying a powdered composition to the bolls, 'means in the chamber for extracting moisture from the powdered bolls, and means for controlling the degree of moisture extracted.

13. An apparatus for maturing immature or -frost bitten cotton bolls, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid composition, an inclined conveyor leading therefrom, a substantially closed stationary chamber, an endless conveyer therein adapted to vreceive material from the inciined conveyor,

moisture extracting means in the chamber.

and moisture condensing means in said chamber.

14. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls,`comprising a receptacle adapted to contain aliquid maturing composition and the bolls, conveying mechanism leading therefrom constructed to convey, drain and partially dry the bolls, a moisture extracting chamber, and mechanism for moving the bolls through said chamber. l

' 15. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls, comprising a moisture extracting chamber, a conveyer adapted to travel slowly therethrough and to receive 4the bolls to be treated, and means for applying a maturing composition to said in said moisture extracting chamber'.-

16. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls comprising a moisture extracting chamber, a conveyer adapted to travel slowly therethrough andv to receive the bolls to be treated, and means yfor applying a maturing cmposition to said -bolls during their; initialy introduction Withbolls 'during their ,travel Within said mois- 5 ture extracting chamber.y

17. An apparatus for maturing immature or frost bitten cotton bolls comprising a moisture extracting chamber, a conveyer adapted to travel slowly therethrough, and to-receive the bolls to be treated, means for applying a maturing composition to saidA bolls before their introduction to said mois'- tureextracting chamber, and means for applying additional maturing composition to said bolls after 'their introduction into said moisture extracting chamber.

` 18. An apparatus for maturing cottonbolls, comprising a 4moisture extracting Lchamber, a carrier supporting said bolls and passing through said chamber, means for initially injecting steam into said chamber upon the bolls to be treated, and means for thereafter applying a maturing composition to said bolls Within said chamber.

' 19. An apparatus for treating cotton bolls,

comprising a moisture extracting chamber, a carrier supporting said bolls and passing through said chamber, 'means :t'or4 initially injecting steam into said chamber upon the bolls to be treated, means for thereafter applying a maturing composition to said bolls Within said chamber, and means for .regulating the 'temperature of said chamber.

JOHN nLLWooD LEE.

`Witnesses:

E.HAYWARD FAIRBANKS. C. D. MCVAY. 

